Antique Edwardian Hop Picking - Kent Series - Invicta - hand tinted postcards with original stamps, Kent memorabilia, incl Italian address

This beautifully presented framed set features three original hand-tinted Edwardian postcards depicting hop-picking scenes in Kent between 1906 and 1911. Captured in rich detail, these evocative images show women, children, and workers in the heart of hop country, set among the towering bines and wicker bins of Kent’s iconic harvest fields. Each postcard originates from the highly collectible “Kent Series – Invicta” published by A.N. Hambrook of Tonbridge, a noted regional publisher of early 20th-century rural and social life.

All three cards are postally used, adding a unique layer of provenance and charm. The top card, dated September 1907 and franked in Tunbridge Wells, was addressed to West Kensington, London, and features a dense handwritten message. The central card, sent from Birling in August 1911, travelled further afield — to Miss Jela in Milan, Italy — and contains a personal note from “Uncle Will” referencing musicians, travel, and the oppressive summer heat in Milan. The lower card, postmarked August 1906, was sent to London Wall, EC, and speaks of splendid weather and a three-week countryside stay, likely during the hop harvest.

These cards not only portray the annual migration of Londoners to Kent for seasonal agricultural work — particularly women and children — but also serve as intimate glimpses into everyday Edwardian life and communication. Each is printed in subtle, painterly tones typical of hand-tinted photographic cards from the period, and the divided backs reflect the early format of British postcards after 1902.

Elegantly mounted in a green mat and antique-style gilt frame, this set is ideal for collectors of vintage ephemera, those interested in social history or rural English life, or anyone seeking a unique and historically rich decorative piece. The vibrant imagery, authentic stamps (including Edward VII halfpenny and one penny issues), and visible postmarks make this an exceptional visual and historical artifact from pre-WWI Britain.

This framed triptych offers not just beauty but storytelling — linking London, Kent, and even Milan through a lens of labour, leisure, and Edwardian connection. The cards are in excellent condition and being double sided, the display provides a wonderful piece of history.

The frame is vintage and has the usual small signs of age and wear, all commensurate. It is ready to handg and is truly delightful.

Size : frame approx 45 x 26.5cm, each card is approx 13 x 8cm